Corporate giant fights tooth & nail over Health Benefits
There were dozens of unruly arrests - including that of AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka - high-spirited vocal protests with a lot of sign-waving, and a crush of unionzied workers that disrupted business-as-usual in the Hotel's front lobby.
The angry boycott began with a march on congested city streets, boasted eight-hundred workers strong, and ended up a sit-down protest which blocked the front entrance to the upscale Hilton Hotel in downtown San Francisco.
Tired of waiting for exhaustive negotiations to cough up a satisfactory agreement (the previous contracts expired in August) frustrated workers took to the streets on Tuesday to vent their anger (with additional orchestrated walk-outs to follow in a bold-faced effort to get their message across to management).
They're mad as hell and they're not going to take it anymore!
At issue, is a stickling benefit, which neither side appears to want to let up on.
Union reps are pushing for continued health care coverage with low co-payments which the Hotel is opposed to.
Hilton reps take the position that workers in the Bay area should help their end to cover ever-rising costs thrust on the providers in recent days due to the current economic climate around the country..
Meanwhile, tourists are a bit baffled by all the brouhaha, which has taken them by surprise.
Management admits the boycotts have hurt the industry - but - they've refused to budge.
In response, the Union asserts they are not being unreasonable under the circumstances.
In a nutshell, disgruntled union workers argue that profitable corporate Hotel chains can afford to provide the benefits.
Who's being unrealistic?
News at 11!
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